Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-26
Nineteen Persons Perish in the Destruc.
ton of N Paris Theater.

The Paris Opera Comique caught fire last even
Ing and in few moments the whole building was
wrapped in flames. Nineteen persons are known
70 have persisted, fourteen OF whom were killed by
jumping from the windows. FOTJy-three persons
were injured IL IS feared that many were crushed
~ death In the galleries The fire broke out dur
ing the first act Of the opera ''MignOn." One OF
the wings caught fire from gas jet and the
entire stage was Immediately envelOped in flames
The fire soon spread TO the whole house. Madame
Mergilier and Nun. Tasquin and Bernard were on
the stage when the fire broke out. All the actors
ran out In their stage costumes. A large part Of
the audience got oct easily, but the gas was
turned on before all nad LETT the building and H. is
feared that some were lett in the upper tiers The
roof soon fell IN, sending showers OF sparks as far
as the Place de la BOurse. With the exception OF
Madame Sefff.r, who persisted In the flames all
the actors escaped. though several OF the SUPER
numerarieS were injured severely.
Five bodies, terribly burnt, were conveyed to
the national library. Among them was the body
Of woman clasping little boy in her arms The
money receipts were saved. Mn. Goblet, Thibau-
lin, and GragnOn were on the spot soon after the
IRE started, and they remained throughout with
the fire officials
An artificial fire apparatus which had been
placed In position in readiness FOR the burning
OF the palace in the second act, rolled down from
It's place near the roof and exploded below.
Women half clad and carrying their costumes
ned from the stage screaming.
several actors escaped by climbing TO the roof
OF the side OF the Rue MariyantA, where they We're
rescued Dy IRE escapes VI. IaSguin inplOred The
audience 70 remain seated until The exits were
opened, which they did Ii they had made rush
for the doors the loss OF life would have been ter
rlble- The police outside were unable TO restrain
the crowd who besieged the building inquirtng
for friends inside until military Gordon was
formed.
One man who wanted TO reSue his brother and
sister rayed and tore his hair and menaced with
stick the people who stopped him from rushing
into the blazing building. The scene outside Was
once OF the widest excitement. Failing emberS
struck horses in the surrounding streets, causing
them 70 plunge and rear Flames shot out or every
window forcing the crowd into the narrow streets,
where the crush vas terrific
nguTanJe says there were one hundred and
fifty persons the stage when the fire broke out
She heard the glass falling like hail-stOrm, but
told the other girls not To mind IL. But while she
was speaking a column OF flame burst through the
wings with roar, and all rushed pell-men from
the stage. Many policemen were injured
only a fortnight ago vi. StecnaAers called atten-
ton in the chamber OF deputies 10 the condition
OF the opera Comique, which was the oldest
theater In Paris Figaro also called attention TO
the same thing after the recent twelve hour bene
1t performance.
The Havas News Agency places the number OF
persons killed and injured at sixty. The theater
was completely destroyed.
AS soon as possible after the fire broke out the
iron curtain was lowered in front OF the stage and
this prevented the tre from spreading Immediately
10 the auditorium, and allowed the audience time
To escape. The men who carried away the money
chest report that when they left the auditorium
was quite empty. The fire brigade distinguished
themselves, and many OF them had narrow eS-
capeS. Most OF the casualties SO far reported
were due TO NERVOUSNESS. Many persons who were
unable TO trust themselves To walk the narrow
ledge OF the cOrnice round the building, jumped OFF
In their terror One woman cOolly walked all
above until she reached hre-eocape. Tine victims
were almost all singers.